Busting out

While the details of the last couple months would probably make interesting reading (or perhaps that's simply egocentrism on my part), I am going to choose omission instead.  It should go without saying, however, that four adults with disparate patterns and habits attempting to work together in a career that will expose psychological flaws that were either invisible or submerged before...well, it is not for the faint of heart.  It should also go without saying that the endeavor is worthwhile though still possible to leave with the honor of all parties in tact when it no longer benefits anyone.  This is the juncture we have reached.  Though sooner than any of us expected, it was always acknowledged as a distinct possibility for Poker House.  Certainly I can only speak for my part, but I have to say that I have been enriched and challenged in ways that I wouldn't have been otherwise.  One of the elements I intend to continue actually is the practice of tracking this journey of ours in writing.  In order to honor the entity that was but is no longer, I have decided to start a blog of my own and focus more specifically on my developing identity as a female poker player and all that entails.  While still speaking in this venue for this last time, however, I would like to thank all the folks that have been following our exploits on Hammered Quads.  It has been fun reading the comments and sharing this short though interesting bit of history shared between the four of us in Poker House.  If you would like to follow my blog, you can find it at tankers-area52.blogspot.com.  So, as Jacob would say: "May the force be with you....


...

Always."

And then there were three.

Don't worry - the game hasn't defeated anyone.....yet. But Threads13 has moved on to greener pastures. Well really he's moved on to lots of grey, rainy days, concrete, grunge rock, and Starbucks (ok I admit I kinda like all those things 'cept one). You guessed it- met a girl in Seattle, which of course makes it pretty hard to stay in Prairieton, IN. Incidentally we are looking for new roommate. Inquire within.

Superchimp and Tankers are out of town for a while, so Greta (the dog) and I are currently the lone occupants of Poker House.

So the subject of the day is stress. Poker has become stressful. Sure we all expected the fun to wear off a bit and for poker to start feeling like work. After all it is work. But I for one am starting to feel stressed about playing in much the same way as I would feel stressed about going to the office, or even (shudder) writing a legal memo. Thankfully it is to a lesser degree...and I think it will pass eventually. I've still played only about 200k hands since going pro. That sounds like a ton, but remember we get 300 to 500 hands an hour playing online. Anyway, the point is that there is a lot of variance in this game and I'm still getting used to it. I think after 500K or 1 million hands or something like that it will be easier to back up and look at the big picture and rarely worry about what is won or lost in a particular day, week, or month.

And hell, I've got no boss, make my own hours, and get to tell people I play poker for a living. How cool is all that? Certainly worth a little stress. Especially when the alternatives have stress of their own. It's just a little unexpected is all.

So on to the most important point: Holkan rush still owns on Monarch level! The thing that makes it work so well (better than traditional axe rush, imo) is that you don't need iron, and therefore never need to spend time founding a second city, building road, mine, or researching iron working. Just research bronze working and hunting and voila!...4 strength units immune to 1st strikes and with city raider promotions. Start the game by building two workers, then chop rush barracks and keep chopping until you have a stack of 8 or so. Head straight for enemy capital. Add salt.

So that's it for now. Join us next time when we'll be duct-taping clocks to all kinds a different stuff.